Self opening window structure



Dec. 22, 1959 R. L. KLEIN 2,917,791

SELF OPENING WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 29, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Dec. 22, 1959 R. L. KLEIN SELF OPENING wmnow STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 29, 195

INVENIOR.

- asser z. ma /w United States Patent() 2,917,791 SELF OPENING WINDOW STRUCTURE Robert L. Klein, Morristown, NJ.

Application November 29, 1957, Serial No. 699,554

4 Claims. (Cl. 20-42) This invention relates generally to window structures and particularly to what may be termed a cord-controlled, self-opening, awning type sash provided with means for governing the positioning of such sash. While swing-out or awning type sashes are generally known in the art, the present invention contemplates an entirely new approach to such sash constructions and their operation in effecting the automatic opening of a sash and its closing from any desired location which can be distant from the sash.

The principal object of this invention therefore is the provision of a self-opening, remote controlled sash.

A further object of this invention is the combination with a self-opening sash of control means for governing the adjustment of a sash to any desired opening position, and for closing the sash from a location distanced from the sash.

A more specific object of this invention is the provision of a window frame composed of substantially channelshaped upright members connected by top and bottom rails, and wherein a cross member disposed between the top and bottom rails additionally connects the upright frame members, and wherein between the upright members and above the cross member there is located a selfopening sash, and wherein means are provided at the lower frame portion for adjusting the sash to any desired opening position and for closing the sash.

These and additional important objects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully clarified from the ensuing description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a presently preferred form of a window and sash construction in accordance with the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the window frame, partly in cross section, with the self-opening sash in open position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section through a cord-adjusting and cord-arresting device for governing the positioning and closing of the sash;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view showing a sliding element with suspension means for a sash; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken along lines 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In Figs. 1 and 2 numeral denotes a window frame composed of two upright members 11 and 1'2, connected by top rail 13 and bottom rail 14 and a substantially channel-shaped cross member 15 at the upper portion of the frame, that is closer to top rail 13 than to bottom rail 14. Between top rail 13 and cross member 15 there will be seen a self-opening awning type sash 16, composed of side members 17 and top and bottom rails 18 and 19, re spectively.

Frame members 11 and 12 are substantially channelshaped in cross section with their flanges directed inwardly or toward each other, and are provided with guide means 20 for a pair of oppositely disposed sliding elements 21, seen clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. These elements are preferably made of anti-friction material such as nylon. Extending through the upper ends of sliding elements 21 are pins 22 which form pivotal suspensions for the upper ends .of side members 17 of sash 16. Beneath pins 22 are arranged pins 23 which serve as suspension means for the upper ends of coil springs 24, the lower ends 25 of which are securely held within. upright frame members 11 and12.

Within the recesses formed between guide means 20 of the upright frame members 11 and 12 and below spring 24 there are provided spacers 26 through which pass pins 27 serving as pivots for bars 28, which are connected at 29 to side members 17 of sash 16. Mounted within uprights 11 and 12 are thrust springs 30 which engage bars 28 and urge the latter to normally swing in outward direction in respect to frame 10. 1

Supported by cross bar 15 are sheaves 31 which form guides for a cord 32, one end of which is secured at 33 to the outer flange of the sash. The cord progresses over guide sheaves 31, passes outwardly through upright 12 of the frame at 35 and enters a combination cord-ad justing and cord-arresting device 35 indicated in Fig. 1 and shown in detail in Fig. 2. The cord having passed through device 35, its projecting end is equipped with a ring or any other suitable means 36 for facilitating pulling of the cord when desired.

In Fig. 1 the combination cord-adjusting and cord-arresting device 35 is shown removably secured at the outer surface of upright member 12 of the frame. Obviously it can be placed at any other suitable location on or remote from the frame.

The construction of the device is very simple and effective. Referring to Fig. 3, the device consists of a body .37 which is substantially rectangular in cross section. The

body is hollow, being provided with passage 38 of a certain diameter in its lower portion and passage 39 of a larger diameter at its upper portion. Force-fitted into the bottom end of body 37 is a clutch-engaging member 40 with an internal conical clutch seat 41. Operative within clutch-engaging member 40 and the lower passage 38 is a clutch or collet 42 composed of a plurality of resilient prongs 43, terminating at their lower ends is interiorly serrated head segments 44 which are adapted to grip cord 32 when head segments 44 are caused to forcibly engage seat 41. The upper end 45 of the clutch is preferably widened and threaded internally to receive a connecting tube 46, the upper end of which is threaded and engages the internally threaded depending end of hollow sleeve 47 of depressible operating handle 48. At the juncture of lower passage 38 with upper wider passage 39 there is formed a spring seat 49, against which bears the lower end of compression spring 50, while its upper end engages hollow leg 47 of handle 48. Spring 50 normally urges handle 48 in upward direction, thus causing clutch 42 to be drawn upwards so that head segments 44 forcibly engage seat 41 and are compressed toward one another, thereby securely gripping cord 32 and preventing its movement in upward direction.

Cord 32, however, can be readily moved in downward direction by exerting a pulling action upon ring 36. That pulling action causes the cord to move clutch 42 in downward direction, whereby the clutch releases the cord sufficiently to permit its unrestricted movement through device 35 in downward direction. The moment, however, the cord is released, the clutch head elements 44 will immediately grip the cord and prevent it from moving up wards.

When it is desired to release the cord for upward movement it is necessary to depress handle 48, whereby spring 50 is compressed and clutch head segments 44 move outwardly and automatically spread apart, due to the resiliency of prongs 43. The spreading of head segments 44 releases cord 32 and permits it to move in upward direction.

,Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, tensionsprings 24 are so located that they normally pull sliding element 21 in downward direction, thus taking with them the upper end ofsash 16 and causing the latter to move downward- -ly. 'At the same time bars 28, urged by thrust springs 30 in outward direction, will cause the sash to swing outwardly like an awning, provided, of course,-that cord '32 hasbeen released by depressing handle 48. The moment depressed handle 48 is released, clutch 42 grips the .co-rd,1the latter inturn arresting the movement of the "sashin'its automatic outward swing.

:From the foregoing explanation it becomes clear that 'the moment the cord is released by depressing handl 48, the cord willmove in upward :direction inducedby the automatic opening movement of the sash, and that upon releasing'handle 48 the movement of the cord stops, thus preventing a further outward movement'of the sash. By pulling the cord, the'sash is moved toward its closing position and can be completely closed by means of the ;cord, when desired. The action of pulling the cord obviously overcomes the force of springs 24 and 30 which are "designed to automatically swing the sash to its opening position. When the cord is pulled out fully, clutch 42 will prevent its movement and the sash is then held in its .force for moving both the sash and bars 28 in outward direction.

While in the drawings a specific embodiment'of the present invention is illustrated, it is quite obvious-that, due to different requirements in the application'of the window structure, its construction, including its operating components, may require changes and modifications which are deemed to reside within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the annexed claims.

What is claimed as new is: j 1. In an automatically opening window structure, a window frame composed of substantially channel-shaped upright members, top and bottom railsand a cross member connecting the upright members betweenthe top and bottom rails, a sash operative in said frame above said cross member and comprising sides and top and bottom rails,fixed guide channels provided withinthe portions of said frame upright members located above .said cross member, a pair of sliding elements operative in. said fixed guide channels, pivot-forming sash suspensionmeans extending from saidelements and: passing into the upper ends of the sash side rails, spring. means .fixedly attached atone of their ends to said upright frame members, the-other end'of said spring means-engaging said elementsand normally urging the latter, and thus the upperend of the sash, in downward :direction, a pair of bars pivotally connecting the sashside rails with. said upright frame members, thrustyspring means fastenedinsaid frame upright members and engaging said bars for normally urging them to swingoutwardly in respect to said frame, an operating cord for said sash extending along a portion of said cross memher, cord guide means provided within said cross mem- .ber,;a,cord-adjusting and cord-arresting device secured to an exterior portion of said frame, one end of saidcord being attached to the bottom rail of said sash, said cord passing over said cord guide means, and progressing through and outwardly from the body of the frame and entering into and passing through said cord-adjusting and cord-arresting device, the other end of the cord extending from said device, and means at the extending cord end for facilitatingthe operation of the cord.

2. In a window structure, a frame having channelshaped upright'members, a cross member connecting the upright frame members at the upper portion of the frame, a self-opening sash having an upper and a lower rail at the upper portion of said frame, vertically movable suspension means for the sash operative within said upright members of the frame, spring means within said upright members normally urging said suspension means in downward direction, thereby causing the sash to move to its opening position, a sash adjusting cord secured at one of its ends to the lower rail of the sash and-extending partly along said cross member and through and outwarfdly from the frame, a manually operable cord adjusting device secured to the exterior of the frame, said cord passing through said device, said device having means for either gripping or releasing the cord, thereby governing the opening-of the sash induced by said spring means.

3. In an automatically opening window structure according to claim 1, and wherein said cord-adjusting and cord-arresting device comprises a hollow body of substantially rectangular cross section, in which is operatively mounted a manually actuable, spring-biasedcorderigaging'and cord-releasing instrumentality.

4. In an automatically opening window structure according to claim 3 and wherein said instrumentality'c'on sists of .a cord-engaging clutch formed by a plurality of cooperating resilient prongs provided with internally serments to engage said clutch seat and to move toward one another for firmly engaging said cord against upward progress through said sleeve, said cord releasing member adapted, when operated in downward direction by depressing the handle of the sleeve, to compress-said spring,

and to cause said head segments to disengage said-clutch seat and to spread apart, thereby freeing the cordjfor upward movement through the sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 8,967 Hofiman Nov. 1s,-- 1s79 2,225,349 Morse Dec. 17, 1940 2,571,374 Mayr .'Oct. 1 6/1951 2,620,523 Broleman Dec. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 574,975 Germany Apr.;.21, 1933 689.255 Great-Britain "Mar.'25,1 953 

